I applied online. The process took 2 weeks. I interviewed at John Lewis & Partners (Londres, Inglaterra) in Jun 2014
Interview
- online application: answer situational questions, submit CV
- assessment day at store: group task, observed by managers (make sure you talk and contribute, and call people by their names asking for their opinions).
- 1:1 interview with manager (show lots of enthusiasm)
Tip: John Lewis is centred around customer service: it's how they compete and do better than their rivals. Try to give an example where you've gone beyond expectations of a usual sales situation and left the customer leaving happy, maybe with some extra bits of information they might not have expected to acquire. Or a time you've taken on a task from a team member and helped reach a goal more effectively.
It doesn't matter what you know or don't know. Lots of people going into these sales positions have no experience. It's all about your personality and drive to provide top customer service with every single transaction. Even if the customer doesn't buy anything, if you are friendly and proactive with advice, they'll remember that and come back. JL love people who look approachable and friendly, and provide good advice for any situation. You're the face of their stores. If you can't answer a customer's question, don't say "Sorry, not sure on that one", but respond with "I'll find out now for you" and find a colleague or manager. Show you've made an effort. There's a reason why people shop there, and it's about going beyond the call of duty. It also makes your day far more interesting and keeps you busy. The more you learn, the more you can do, the more responsibilities you'll take on and the more interesting the job becomes.
Interview questions [1]
Question 1
Describe a time you have provided excellent customer service?
Give an example you have worked in a team to reach a shared goal?
I interviewed at John Lewis & Partners (Londres, Inglaterra)
Interview
I attended a group interview for a temporary Christmas position where we worked together on scenario-based tasks, discussing different approaches and demonstrating teamwork, communication, and problem-solving skills throughout the process.
Interview questions [1]
Question 1
How would you handle a situation where there’s a long queue of customers, some becoming impatient, while you’re short-staffed during the Christmas rush?
I applied online. The process took 2 weeks. I interviewed at John Lewis & Partners (Cardiff, Gales) in Oct 2025
Interview
It was a group interview where we had to read several scenarios, make individual notes, and then discuss possible solutions with the rest of the group. The assessed part was the group discussion, which was challenging because some of the other participants were very loud and overly confident. This made it difficult to share my points without feeling like I was interrupting or coming across as rude. There was also no one-to-one interview at the end, so my performance was judged entirely on how I interacted within the group.
Really easy. Done a group interview where they test you on your team work, then a solo interview to see your individuality. I then found out a week later if I got the job.
Interview questions [1]
Question 1
What do you like about the customer service in John Lewis?